21 h. ago ‘Risk is very real’: Malaysia’s Anwar gambles on petrol subsidy cuts

Expertly switching between woks as he whips up appam, the coconut and rice batter pancakes that draw morning commuters to his roadside stall in a Kuala Lumpur suburb, Raj Kumar harbours anxieties that simmer away beneath the calm: petrol subsidy cuts are looming and prices may soon rise again. At 44, Raj feels every shift in Malaysia’s rising cost of living – both in the prices he pays for ingredients and the rueful faces of his customers. “Our suppliers raised prices after diesel subsidies were...

Events

41 h. ago Kuala Lumpur’s Aerotrain suffers double trouble after US$100 million relaunch

Malaysia’s long-delayed Aerotrain at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) has suffered fresh embarrassment after experiencing two service disruptions within three days, just a week after its US$100 million relaunch and a test ride by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. The most recent incident occurred on Friday morning, when a flooded tunnel forced Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) to temporarily halt the 1.2km (0.75 miles) rail service linking the main terminal to its international...

Economics

67 h. ago Can Rubio’s Asia tour ease region’s anxiety over looming US tariffs?

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio heads to Asia next week on a high-profile diplomatic tour, but his visit is not expected to ease growing anxiety in Southeast Asia, which is bracing itself for the return of steep US tariffs that threaten to derail growth and test ties with Washington. Rubio is expected to fly to Kuala Lumpur for meetings on July 10-11 with foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and other Asia-Pacific countries, according to media reports. He...

Politics

1 week ago Singaporean trio held in Malaysia’s US$1.7 million cocaine vape bust

Three Singaporean men have been arrested in a Malaysian drug bust of US$1.7 million worth of cocaine-laced vape liquid destined for sale overseas, in a case spotlighting Kuala Lumpur’s emerging role as a hub for a new generation of narcotics delivered through e-cigarettes. On Monday, Malaysia’s federal narcotics department announced the seizure of nearly 5,000 cartridges of the cocaine-laced liquid from a vehicle parked at a hotel in Ampang, an upscale suburb east of the capital, Kuala...

Economics

2 w. ago Malaysia’s second fatal shooting in 4 days sparks fears of gang menace

A manhunt was under way in Malaysia on Tuesday after masked gunmen shot dead two people outside a Kuala Lumpur shopping centre. The gangland-style shooting, coming just days after a similar incident, has fuelled fears of the organised crime menace in the city. Gun violence is relatively rare in the country, where possession of unlicensed firearms carries the death penalty. But a recent string of apparently targeted attacks, including a daylight assassination in Johor earlier this year, has...

Events

2 w. ago Malaysian singer Naim ‘committed to clear name’ after sexual assault charge

A Malaysian singer and actor was charged on Tuesday for the alleged sexual assault of an underaged girl, a crime that carries up to 20 years in jail and caning if convicted. Naim Daniel, who shot to fame with his 2022 hit single Sumpah (Swear) – which has reached 42 million views on YouTube – is accused of sexually assaulting the 17-year-old victim on May 19 at a hotel in Petaling Jaya district, just outside the capital city of Kuala Lumpur. The 28-year-old’s charge comes after weeks of...

Events

3 w. ago Former Anwar aide acquitted of drug and firearms charges, claims persecution

A former aide who accused Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim of sexual misconduct has claimed he is a victim of political persecution, after a court in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday acquitted him of drug and firearms charges. Muhammed Yusoff Rawther, who made headlines in 2019 with allegations against the then-opposition leader, was charged last year with possession of over 300g of cannabis and two imitation firearms. The items were found in his car outside a police station in September...

Events